Cigarette



Feb 13, 1940 w. F. M. EDWARDS 2,189,885 1 CIGARETTE Filled F'eb. l, 19373 Sheets-Sheet 1 f77 Veno: W. EM, Edwafcf;

BWM @W77 s Feb. 13, 1940. w, M EDWARDS 2,189,886

CIGARETTE Filed Feb. l, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1940.

w. F. M. EDWARDS 2,189,886

CIGARETTE Filed Feb. 1, 1937 www IM-v7 YQww W ATTVS.

s sheets-sheet s Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED smilies PATEN CIGARETTEWilliam FrederckMaitland Edwards,y Hinchley Wood, Esher. England,assigner to Filter Tips f Limited, London, England `Application February1, 1937, Serial No. 123,541

lin GreatBritain January 31,1936` n l 17 cleans.` (C1. 1x1- 94) l(Granted under the provisions of sec.l 14,7actof M-i'h 2, 1927; 357 G.5) I l This invention relates to the manufacture of lter tip or likecomposite cigarettes by uniting cigarettes or lengths of cigarette rodand filter tips or mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands of corkor the like.

The present invention Ihas for its object to provide improvementsin'theproduction of lter tip cigarettes rwhereby the application of theruniting""bands to and around the assembled lengths to be united may beeffected with cer tainty and precision so 'as to `ensure constant andeflicient operation -under ordinary working con-` ditions and at theSametime to secure a product which is consistentlysatisfactory.

More speciiically the present invention has for its main object toeffecta vpreliminarywrapping i of the `uniting band around part of thecircumference of the assemblage without rotation or axial movement ofthe same.

A further object is to effect the wrapping of the uniting bands aroundthe 4assemblages partially or :wholly while theassemblages are beingcarried `laterally without rotation.

'A further object is to .provide apparatus for carrying out the methodvherein described.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference`to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a partsectional side elevation illustrating one embodiment according `to theinvention; i f

.Figure 2 is a detail View drawn to an enlarged scale showing themannerin which the initial wrappingoperation is eiected in the apparatus showninFigure 1; y y

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrat ing a modiiication; Y nf Figures 4 and 5 are detailviews on an enlarged scale illustrating themanner in which the wrapY l ping is'completed. n

Figure 6 is a developed section on the line 5-6 in Figure 3; Y A

Figuren? is a section of a detail on the line 'l---7in1iigure6;andy t* vl' c Figure 8L is a perspective diagram showing the wheels of thearrangement in Figure 3. i

In carrying the invention into effect accordin to vone embodiment andwith reference to Figures l and 2 of the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings, the assemblages i, the component parts of which are to beunited and which generally consist of'vtwo cigarettes or lengths ofcigarette rod an' interposed. ydouble length lter tip or mouthpieceportion, are delivered"` from hopper or other means (not shown)` intogrooves 2a inia drum 2 Vin which grooves 2a. the assemblages areretained by fixed `guides 2b. From the drum Zfeach assemblage is'.transferred in turn by the provision of arotary Acarrier 3 in the formof a suction drum having armsta with 5f `concave extremities 3b andsuction holes 3c, the latter communicating with a suction chamber 3dwhich in turn communicates through a hole y 3e with a bore 3f vin thespindle 3g connected to K a suitable source of suction. Each arm 3a`is', in K10 i four parts, the twoV outer parts engaging the twocigarettes and the two innerparts` engaging the double filter tip, `thespacing of the four parts ,providing circumferentially extending slotsin` which the guides 2b anda suitably slotted part l5 vof the member 'lto be hereinafter referred to mayextend. The suction' to the arms 3aiscut" `off by a fixed member Sh'during the part of the travel from thereleaseypointto the point `ofpick up from the drum 2. f Each assemblageI is in turn brought into contact with a previously `pasted uniting band4 of f cork or the like carried on a suction drum 5 having suctionIholes 5a and a suction cut-off member y5h. As shown, the assemblagecontacts 25 with the band Il at a position towards its leading end andthe assemblage with the band 41 applied `thereto is carried around onthe arm 3a into engagement with the drum 6. The drum 6` is formed withtransversely extending slotsr 6a 30 (Figure 2) in which resilientlymounted members 6b normally are disposed so as to lie more or less iiushwith the periphery of the drum. As shown, the members Gibmay be carriedon arms 6c pivoted at 6d and influenced by light tension springs 35 6e.`Inthev projecting movement of the `assemblage towards the drum t, theleading part of the band 4 is engaged by the respective member 6b andthereby partly wrapped around the assemblage, tion shown in dotted linesin Figure 1 it is pressed into the slot 6a in. the drum againsttheresilient member Scand, as shown more especially in g Figure 2,' theband li is thereby wrapped around approximately half the circumference'ofthe as-` 45 r oFFicEff N f As the assemblage approachesthe posi- 40 ya table 8b and the assemblage is rolled between the belt andthe member 1so as tocomplete the wrapping of -the uniting band 4 around theassemblage in a manner known per se, the beltv 3 by the gears 3i, Gf.The roller 8a may be driven` by the gears 3i, 8c.

As viewed in Fig. 1, the gear wheel 5c is disposed slightly behind thegear wheel 6f so as not to foul the latter, and it will be understoodthat the teeth of the gear wheel 3i are made wide enough toA mesh withboth the wheels- 5c and rI'J; a similar arrangement is hereinafterdescribed with reference to Figs. 3 to 8. and-is most clearly seen inFig. 8.

In a modication, as illustrated in Figures 3 to 8, the assemblages I aretransferred from the drum 2 by means of radial arms 3a on asuctioncarrierl 3 as before described, but in this embodiment each assemblagecontacts with the n r uniting band at a substantially middle position,as

y shown in Figure 3.

The assemblage with the vuniting band 4 attached is carried around inrelation to a drum ID having radially projectible members Ilib, disposedin slots Illa and having U-shaped outer ends forming spaced members Ic.Tongues IUJ formed in the members Ib, as shown in Figure 7, engage ingrooves Ig formed in the walls of the slots Illa; so that the membersIII?)` are constrained to'remain square with respect to the 'aXis of thedrum I0. The members I 0b are fitted with rollers Id engaging in a camgroove in a fixed cam disc II, the cam groove being profiled at IIa sothat at this position each member Illbis projected radially, as shown indotted lines, so that-the members Illc act to wrap the band 4 aroundsubstantially half the circumference of the assemblage. At this pointthe suction to thev arm' 3a is cut off by the member 3hland onwithdrawal of the member Illb the assemblage is carried thereby into theslot Illain the drum Ill. The projecting parts of the uniting band 4 arewrapped around the assemblage, while the same is being carried laterallyby the drum I0, by the action of sleeve segments I2 carried byan endplate IZa which, while driven in the same direction as the drum I0, hasa differential movement with respect thereto so that during acceleratedmovement of the plate I2a one segment I2, as shown in Figure 4, movesforward to' wrap overA one of the projecting parts of the uniting band 4and then,

lbe delivered on to a conveying belt IB passing over a roller Ia. Thecarrier 3 and the drums 2 and 5 may be geared together by the meansshown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. The drum ID may be geared to thecarrier 3l by means of the The carrier 3 may be geared to the drum gears3i, I Ile. The plate I2a may be mounted `on a sleeve fitted with aseparate gear Wheel I2b which is driven with a differential motion inrelation to the gear IIIe, for instance by a gear train embodying a gearI3 meshing with the 4gear liptical or other varying ratio gears I4, I5and a gear I6 meshing with the gear |21).

It will be understood that in all cases single 'lter tips may be unitedto single cigarettes and that where a double filter tip is interposedbetween and united to a pair of cigarettes, the product has to besubsequently bisected. Furthermore, if desired, any suitable number oflengths may be united by the application of two or more uniting bands toproduce a rod which is subsesuction carrier having radial suction armsadapted to pick up and convey'the assemblages to be united, means forbringing previously pasted uniting bands into contact with theassemblages, a rotary member having slots adapted to embrace theassemblage partially as it is conveyed by the said carrier and therebyto wrap the uniting band around' part ofthe circumference of theassemblage, and means for subsequently completing the wrapping of theuniting band around the assemblage.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said slots are formed insaid rotary member so as to be radially movable with respect thereto,saidapparatus also comprising a stationary cam for successivelyprojecting said slotted parts to embrace the assemblages and onwithdrawal to remove the assemblages from their carrier.v

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forr thecompletion of the wrapping of the uniting band around the assemblagecomprises sleeve segments carried by a member having a differentialmotion with respect to the said rotary member tor lapy first oneprojecting part of the uniting band and then the other.

4. A method for theV manufacture of filter tip and likecomposite'cigarettes by uniting lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpieceportions with uniting bands, comprising assembling lengths of cigaretterod and mouthpiece portions in axial alignment, holding an alignedassemblage on one side thereof while leaving the major part of thecircumference thereof accessible, pressing the opposite side of saidassemblage into contact With a uniting band,'further pressing theassemblage while so held and the band inv contact therewith transverselyof the axis of said assemblage into a slot to partially wrap the bandaround said assemblage, discontinuing the holding of the assemblage, andcompletely wrapping the band around the assemblage.

5, A method for the manufacture of filter tip and like compositeVcigarettes by uniting lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portionswith uniting bands, comprising assembling lengths of cigarette rod andmouthpiece portions in axial alignment, holding an aligned assemblage onone side thereof while leaving the major part of the circumferencethereof accessible, conveying the assemblage to bring the opposite freeside thereof f into attaching Contact with a uniting band, pressing theassemblage while so held and the band in contact therewith transverselyof the axis of said assemblage into a slot to partiallyV wrap the bandaround said assemblage, discontinuing the holding of the assemblage,and'completely wrapping the band around the assemblage. i5.r A. methodfor the manufacture of filter tip and like composite cigarettes byuniting lengths oi cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions with uniting'bands, comprising assembling lengths oi'` cigarette rod and mouthpieceportions in axial alignment, holding an aligned assemblage on one sidethereof while `leaving the major part of the circumference thereofaccessible, conveying the assemblage to bring the opposite freeV sidevthereof into attaching Contact with a uniting band, further conveyingthe assemblage while so held with the attached uniting band to a wrap-Zone, pressing the assemblage and the band in contact therewithtransversely of the axis of said assemblage into a slot to partiallywrap the band around said assemblage, discontinuing the holding of theassemblage, and completely wrapping the band around the assemblage.

'7. vA method for the manufacture of filter tip and like compositecigarettes by uniting lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portionswith uniting bands, comprising assembling lengths of cigarette rod andmouthpiece portions in axial alignment, holding an alignedassemblage onone side thereof while leaving the major part of the circumferencethereof accessible, pressing the opllosite side of said assemblage intocontact with a uniting band, further pressing they assemblage while soheld and the band in `contact therewith transversely of the axis of saidassemblage into a slot to partially wrap the band around saidassemblage, discontinuing the holding of the assemblage, and rolling theassemblage between relative moving surfaces to complete the wrapping ofthe band about the same.

8. A method for the manufacture of lter tip and like compositecigarettes by uniting lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portionswith uniting bands, comprising assembling lengths of cigarette rod andmouthpiece portions in axial` alignment. holding an aligned assemblageon one thereof While leaving the major part of the circumference thereofaccessible, pressing the opposite side of said assemblage intocontactwith a uniting band, further lpressing the assemblage while soheld and the band in contact therewith transversely of the axis of saidassemblage into` a slot to partially wrap the band around saidassemblage, discontinuing the holding of the assemblage, retaining saidpartially wrapped assemblage in said slot, and completing the Wrappingof said assemblage.

9. A method for the `manufacture oflter tip Sigarette rod and mouthpieceportions in axial alignment, holding an aligned assemblage on one sidethereof while leaving the major part of the 1 circumference thereofaccessible, applying a uniting band to said assemblage on the oppositeside, pressing the assemblage while so held and the' band in contacttherewith transversely of the thereof before said jaios'ofy saidassemblage into a slot to partially wrapthe band around said assemblage,`discontinuingthe holding of the assemblage, and completely wrapping theband around the assemblagel y lo. An apparatus for the manufacture ofiilter tip or; like composite cigarettes, comprising a llconveyor, meanslon said conveyor for supporting assemblages or" aligned lengths ofcigarette rod `rl mouthpiece portions, a second conveyor having wrappingmeans thereon, means for` driving said conveyors to' press anassemblage, carried by the iirst conveyor, transversely of the axis of ithe assemblage into the wrapping means of the second conveyor topartially wrap a uniting band about said assemblage, and means forcompleting the wrappingoi said band about said assemblage.

1i.` An apparatus for the manufacture of filter tip or like compositecigarettes, comprising a conveyor, suction actuated means on saidconveyor for supporting an assemblage of aligned lengths of cigaretterod and mouthpiece Aportions and engaging one side of said assemblage, asecond conveyor having wrapping means thereon, means for driving saidconveyors to press an assemblage, carried by the iirst conveyor,transversely of the axis of the assemblage into 'the wrapping means ofthe second conveyor to partially Wrap a uniting band about saidassembluse, a'nd means for completing the Wrapping of said band aboutsaid assemblage. l

12. An apparatus for the manufacture` of filter tip of like kcompositecigarettes, comprising a conveyor, suction actuated means on saidconveyor for supporting an assemblage of alignedA lengths of cigaretterod and mouthpiece portions and engaging one side of said assemblage,-means for applying a uniting band to the opposite side of saidassemblage, means for pressing the uniting band partially about saidassemblage, and means for stripping said partially wrapped assemblagefrom said supporting means and completing the wrapping of said band.

ao .p

l?. An apparatus for the manufacture of filter I tip or like compositecigarettes, comprising" a conveyor having suctions means for supportingan assemblage of axially aligned lengthsof cigarette rod and mouthpieceportions, means for applying bands to said assemblage, and means actingin a direction approximately at right angies to the axis of thesupported assemblage and` cooperating with said conveyor to press theuniting bands around part 'of the circumference assemblagev is releasedfrom the conyeyor.

1A. An apparatus for the manufacture of ilterrr tip orlike compositecigarettes, comprising a rovtary conveyor, radial arms on said conveyor,

means for applying suction to said arms to support assemblages ofalignedlengths of` cigarette tremities of said arms, a drum having slotsin o rod and mouthpiece portions on the outer exthe y periphery thereof,and ymeans for rotating said drum and rotating conveyor to cause saidsupported assemblages on the convey to enter into the slots of saidAdrum to partially wrap a uniting band interposed between an assemblageand said drum about said assemblage.

y i6.. An apparatus for the manufacture o' lter tip .or like compositecigarettes, comprising a rotary conveyor, radial arms on said conveyor,means for applying suction to said arms to support assemblages ofaligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions on the outerextremities of said arms, a drum, radially movable wrapping meanscarried by said drum', means for rotating said carrier and drum to bringthe .assemblages supported by said carrier into register with theWrapping means on said drum, and

'means for displacing said Wrapping means When in register with anassemblage to wrap a uniting band interposed between said Wrapping meansand assemblage partially about the latter.

1'7. An apparatus for the manufacture of filter tip or like compositecigarettes, comprising a conveyor having suction means for supporting anassemblage of axially aligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpieceportions, means for applying bands to said assemblage, means acting in adirection approximately at right angles

